First of all I will say that these are merely words in a book. But it is a book full of wisdom, and perhaps there is significance to the words. But certainly this interpretation of these words from the Bible points to something that I do believe with all my heart: the wounds of the modern world Will Be Healed! And perhaps God put these words in The Bible to comfort us in just this way!
Daniel Spoke, saying, "I saw in my vision by night, and behold, the four winds of heaven were stirring up the Great Sea. And four great beasts came up from the sea, each different from the other. The first was like a lion, and had eagle's wings. I watched till its wings were plucked off; and it was lifted up from the earth and made to stand on two feet like a man, and a man's heart was given to it.
And suddenly there was another beast, a second, like a bear. It was raised up on one side, and had three ribs in its mouth between its teeth. And they said thus to it: 'Arise, devour much flesh!'
After this I looked, and there was another, like a leopard, which had on its back four wings of a bird. The beast also had four heads, and dominion was given to it.
After this I saw in the night visions, and behold, a fourth beast, dreadful and terrible, exceedingly strong. It had huge iron teeth; it was devouring, breaking in pieces, and trampling the residue with its feet. It was different from all the beasts that were before it, and it had ten horns. I was considering the horns, and there was another horn, a little one, coming up among them, before whom three of the firsthorns were plucked out by the roots. And there, in this horn, were eyes like the eyes of a man, and a mouth speaking pompous words.
I watched til thrones were put in place,
And the Ancient of Days was seated;
His garment was white as snow,
And the hair of His head was like pure wool.
His throne was a fiery flame,
Its wheels a burning fire;
A fiery stream issued
And came forth from before Him.
Ten thousand times ten thousand stood before Him.
The court was seated,
And the books were opened.
I watched then because of the sound of the pompous words which the horn was speaking; I watched til the beast was slain, and its body destroyed and given to the burning flame. As for the rest of the beasts, they had their dominion taken away, yet their lives were prolonged for a season and a time.
Daniel 7:2-12
But wait- there's more. For a beautiful new future is predicted for us:
I was watching in the night visions,
And behold, One like the Son of Man,
Coming with the clouds of heaven!
He came to the Ancient of Days,
And they brought Him near before Him.
Then to Him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom,
That all peoples, nations, and languages should serve Him.
His dominion is an everlasting dominion,
Which shall not pass away,
And His Kingdom the one
Which shall not be destroyed'
I, Daniel, was grieved in my spirit within my body, and the visions of my head troubled me. I came near to one of those who stood by, and asked him the truth of all this. So he told me and made known to me these things: 'Those great beasts, which are four, are four kings (note: representing their kingdoms) which arise out of the earth. But the saints of the Most High shall receive the kingdom, and possess the kingdom forever, even forever and ever.
Daniel 7: 13-18
This is what I believe this is describing.
Like Revelation, this is describing our own times, the industrial era.
The lion is the symbol of the British Empire, with the Eagle's wings being the birth of the United States. But the beasts do not represent Peoples, for all peoples will end up with God's Kingdom at the end. They represent Kingdoms, states.
The lion is the British Empire. And the British Empire is a symbol of the Industrial Revolution and European Imperialism.
The bear is the symbol of Russia. Thus, the bear is the Soviet Union, and symbolized Communism.
NOT old Russia.
And the leopard?
What is the counterpart to European Imperialism and Communism? Fascism!
The leopard is Fascism.
The first three beasts are European colonialism, Communism, and Fascism.
And the fourth beast?
The fourth beast is the world we know, the world damaged by European Imperialism, Communism, Fascism, and two World Wars.
These will all pass away.
Not only European Colonialism, Communism, and Fascism.
The fourth beast too will pass away.
All the damage to this poor old world caused by European Colonialism, 'Black' slavery (which is a part of European Colonialism), Communism, Fascism, and two World Wars Will Be Healed.
All the damage caused by colonialism, slavery, two World Wars, Communism, and Fascism Will Be Healed.
And that is what is important about the prophecy: not the details, but that the four beasts will fall and our world will be healed.
Whatever the details mean, that is the clear message of the prophecy: the four beasts will be defeated by God. The horrors of the modern world will be defeated by God. They will pass away. We will stop fearing. We will cease to be in pain. All the stress from the World Wars and the Cold War and 'Black' slavery and European colonialism will pass away. For that is the source of much of the pain in the world today.
And that is the message of the prophecy: the source of the pain, fear and stress will pass away.
Our poor World Will Be healed.
And the promise of times to come is with us.
I was watching in my night visions,
And behold, One like the Son of Man,
Coming with the clouds of Heaven!
He came to the Ancient of Days,
And they brought Him near before Him.
Then to Him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom,
That all peoples, nations, and languages should serve Him.
His dominion is an everlasting dominion,
Which shall not pass away,
And His Kingdom the one
Which shall not be destroyed.
Daniel 7:13,14
Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea. Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, "Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away. Revelation 12:1-4
Rejoice!
Rejoice, for this is the future for all of us!
This is not something to be afraid of!
This is a joy, a promise!
Rejoice!
Sincerely,
David S. Annderson